Signaling apparatus for use with a disposable animal trap

Abstract

A signaling apparatus indicates when a disposable animal trap has been triggered. The apparatus detects movement of the bail, indicating that the trap has been triggered. A visual or audible alarm is used to notify the user. This allows the trap to be reset if the bait is lost, or replaced if an animal has been trapped. Advantages of a signaling apparatus have now been extended to a disposable trap.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A reusable signaling device for use with disposable animal trap having a movable bail, which comprises: (a) a housing shaped and dimensioned to receive the disposable animal trap;   (b) bail-motion-detection means for detecting motion of the bail of the disposable animal trap, the bail-motion-detection means being coupled to the housing;   (c) signal-generation means for generating a signal in response to the detection of bail motion by the bail-motion-detection means, the signal-generation means being secured to the housing of the signaling device; and   (d) removably-affixation means for removably affixing the disposable animal trap to the housing of the signaling device.   
     
     
       2. A signaling device of claim 1, wherein the housing encloses the signal-generation means. 
     
     
       3. A signaling device of claim 1, wherein the bail-motion-detection means comprise a switch which is triggered by the motion of the bail. 
     
     
       4. A signaling device of claim 3, wherein the triggering of the switch allows current to flow to the signal-generation means. 
     
     
       5. A signaling device of claim 1, wherein the bail-motion-detection means comprise a photoelectric detector. 
     
     
       6. A signaling device of claim 5, wherein activation of the photoelectric detector allows current to flow to the signal-generation means. 
     
     
       7. A signaling device of claim 1, wherein the signal-generation means comprise a light. 
     
     
       8. A signaling device of claim 7, wherein the light is a light emitting diode. 
     
     
       9. A signaling device of claim 1, wherein the signal-generation means comprise an audible alarm. 
     
     
       10. A signaling device of claim 1, wherein the removably-affixation means for removably affixing the disposable animal trap to the housing of the signaling device comprises a clip mounted on the housing. 
     
     
       11. A signaling device of claim 10, wherein a plurality of clips are mounted on the housing. 
     
     
       12. A signaling device of claim 1, wherein the removably-affixation means for removably affixing the disposable animal trap to the housing of the signaling device comprises an adhesive. 
     
     
       13. A signaling device of claim 1, wherein the removably affixation means for removably affixing the disposable animal trap to the housing of the signaling device is secured to the housing. 
     
     
       14. A reusable signaling device for use with a disposable animal trap, which comprises: (a) a housing shaped and dimensioned to receive the disposable animal trap; (b) caught-animal-detection means for detecting the presence of an animal caught in the disposable animal trap, the caught-animal-detection means being coupled to the housing;   (c) signal-generation means for generating a signal in response to the detection of the animal by the caught-animal-detection means, the signal-generation means being secured to the housing of the signaling device; and   (d) removably-affixation means for removably affixing the disposable animal trap to the housing of the signaling device.   
     
     
       15. A signaling device of claim 14, wherein the caught-animal-detection means comprise a switch which is triggered by the motion of the animal. 
     
     
       16. A signaling device of claim 15, wherein the triggering of the switch allows current to flow to the signal-generation means. 
     
     
       17. A signaling device of claim 14, wherein the caught-animal detection means comprise a photoelectric detector. 
     
     
       18. A signaling device of claim 17, wherein activation of the photoelectric detector allows current to flow to the signal-generation means. 
     
     
       19. A signaling device of claim 18, wherein the signal-generation means comprise a light. 
     
     
       20. A signaling device of claim 19, wherein the light is a light emitting diode. 
     
     
       21. A signaling device of claim 14, wherein the removably-affixation means for removably affixing the disposable animal trap to the housing of the signaling device comprises a clip mounted on the housing. 
     
     
       22. A signaling device of claim 14, wherein the removably affixation means for removably affixing the disposable animal trap to the housing of the signaling device is secured to the housing.